Splish, splash!

Yep. Exactly like this.

I've been kayaking at the lake again and I send so much water splashing from my paddles that I'm not brave enough yet to risk my camera. I picked up a cheapo set of acrylics and budget brushes and painted this this morning so you could get an idea. Other than the fact that I was on the lake rather than the ocean, the ships were pontoon boats and there were no mermaids it was exactly like this. I copied the image from a little picture in a magazine but yep, it was just the same.

Sweet Fridays

King St., Charleston, S.C.

Hustle and bustle on King St. Took this one a few days ago since I've been walking long after dark hoping for a cool breeze. Yikes, it is hot!

There was a another fire in a downtown house this week and a reward has been posted for help catching the suspected arsonist. Makes all of us living in these big old wooden houses a little nervous. From what I hear from my bedroom window, there are enough people out on our streets all night - let's catch this person and let him/her know how we feel about this.

I formally ended my work week by seeing Midnight in Paris at the Terrace Theater and then a snackie at the little cafe next door and I still got home in time for a late walk.

So far the weekend is off to a great start. Whatcha all got up your sleeves?

Aaaargh! Me HEARTies!

Charleston, S.C.

I had a date with a Pirate under an ancient oak tree early this morning.

Cap'n D'Angela D'Pirate is our first candidate to be Pirate King for our health system. His team will raise funds on his behalf benefiting the American Heart Association. If they raise the most money in his name he will be our King of the Pirates and lead us into battle as we storm the city at the Lowcountry Heart Walk on 9/17.

Aaargh.

Join us!

Are you smarter than a SC 3rd Grader?

Bee St., Charleston, S.C.

Are you smarter than a South Carolina 3rd Grader? Apparently I am not. Bummer. My only excuse is that I didn't go to 3rd grade in South Carolina. Take the quiz on the SCI Way page to see how much you know about South Carolina. I'm ashamed to say I scored 60%. I hope you do better.

Are you smarter than a South Carolina 3rd Grader Quiz

The photo has nothing to do with the quiz. The yellow motorcycle caught my eye on my walk last night.

Flowers? For me? Cool!

Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Charleston, S.C.

I coordinate mentoring for a lot of students on health career paths. I've been doing it for long enough that I can look around my co-workers and smile knowing how many of them started in my office.

It's very cool to watch people get their first real taste of what they want to do in life. I see that every day and it's all part of my master plan to make sure I have nurses, doctors and physical therapists who will pamper me and take good care of me when I am old and sick.

Summer is ending and it was fun to walk around checking on students who will be heading back to school soon. We tracked them down on surgical floors, ICU and coming out of last minute meetings with the nurse recruiter. We heard them talk about their day in surgery and watching a birth. Then, JD turned the tables on me and surprised me with flowers. Someone raised him right and since his Dad happens to be a Charleston blogger I thought I'd use his picture as my photo of the day. JD is returning to USC and is going to make a terrific physician.

Home early

Vanderhorst St., Charleston, S.C.

I love the sight of towels drying over a porch railing. It makes me hope that the occupants are having the perfect lowcountry summer. They should be working a little, studying enough to justify staying in town, spending a lot of time on the beach and yet not keeping me awake all night long (hint, hint).

I ended my day early with a photo op in town that didn't leave enough time to get back to my office so...oooops, I am home early. Walking home I cut through the MUSC shortcut between Ashley and Rutledge and spotted these flowers in the fountain. A lady called out asking if I was the "Charleston blogging lady" and explained that someone regularly left a floral arrangement in the fountain. Nice to meet you Terry! Thanks for saying hello.

Ya gotta say "Surprise!"

College of Charleston, Charleston, S.C.

This walk through the College of Charleston campus is one of my regular shortcuts. Not too shabby, eh?!

Speaking of college students, here is a quick funny from the Hallmark Cards Shoebox blog:

Things you shouldn't say as an Intern. By the Hallmark Interns:

• “I’m not really ‘into’ the 8-hour workday.”


• “You started here in 1990? That’s, like, when I was born!”


• “I get your job when this ends, right?”


• “I found the best place to nap yesterday!”


• “It’s not sexual harassment if you say ‘surprise!’”


• “You’re doing it wrong.”


• “You’re cute. Do you have a daughter who’s closer to my age?”

You are Beautiful!

Market St., Charleston, S.C.

Someone following the Operation Beautiful site must have posted this little sticky on a news stand on Market St. across from Charleston Place Hotel. Of course, I had no idea until I downloaded the shot and googled it to see that this was what it was about:

Women all over the world leave Operation Beautiful notes in public places — at work, at the gym, at the grocery store. We scribble down whatever comes to mind — “You are beautiful!” or “You are amazing just the way you are!” Maybe some people read them and just smile, but I bet some people are truly touched by the effort of a random stranger. To learn more, visit Operation Beautiful.

It would mean more to me if it was personalized with my name on it but I hope it made someone feel beautiful today.

Upcoming action shot

Cannon St., Charleston, S.C.

Uhoh. This doesn't look good, does it? Next major rain storm and some innocent person walking by is going to wonder what hit them. The building is abandoned and for sale so I sent a quick email to the real estate agent contact email in case no one knows how bad it is. For the time being, walk on the north side of Cannon St.!

Sunday Morning Alarm Clock

Seriously? Every Sunday morning? Recycling can be noisy.

Splish, splash!

Lake Marion, S.C.

Not a bad weekend at all! Who knew a $229 piece of red tupperware from Dick's Sporting Goods could be so much fun? Love it. Color me happy!

Firemen can take the heat

Meeting St., Charleston, S.C.

Firemen can take the heat.

I needed a cool shower after my walk. Whew. Stay cool y'all!

Elite Parking Society

Society St., Charleston, S.C.

Parking spots are so precious in Charleston we tend to get creative with our No Parking signs. Is this one threatening the howling hounds of hell?

Pizza not girls, duh

Andolini's Pizza, Wentworth St., Charleston, S.C.

When my kids were in high school they spent so much time at Ann Delinni's that I briefly assumed she was the most popular gal in town.

Andolini's Pizza.

Duh.

John C. walking in the garden

Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

John C. Calhoun walking in the garden that is Marion Square in the summer. Slightly more flattering that most pictures I take of him.

Always be mindful....

City Lights Coffee Shop, Market St., Charleston, S.C.

Always be mindful of the kindness and not the faults of others.

Ding Dong the School is Gone

Memminger Elementary, Charleston, S.C.

Going, going, almost gone. I heard that Memminger Elementary and Buist Academy were two of the schools on the peninsula that were being demolished after studies showed they wouldn't be safe in an earthquake. My kids went to both the schools so I thought I'd grab a few pictures before they were gone but I was almost too late.

We moved to Charleston when my children were ready for kindergarten and grade one and were immediately told there was no public school on the peninsula that they should go to. I'd lived where there were good and bad teachers but had never lived anywhere where I was told that a whole school was bad. There was only one other white family at Memminger at that time and to this day people call out recognizing me as the mother of the only white kid in their class.

Years later one after the other, they were each accepted at Buist Academy on Calhoun St. which was not only the closest neighborhood school but also an academic magnet school. How odd to see bulldozers tearing down the auditorium and cafeteria they went to every day. It looks like they might leave the main street front building in place. I remember trying to speak very clearly when I mentioned that my kid was "a Buist kid" because people tended to think I said they were "abused kids".



Buist Academy, Calhoun St., Charleston, S.C.

Rooftop Greenery

Charleston, S.C.

Let's get some goats up on that roof or turn it into a Carrabba's Restaurant! They always have so much greenery on their roof at Carrabbas I'm tempted to ask for a ladder and a take out picnic to eat in the garden.

Put the kettle on, let's do some yard work!

Meeting St., Charleston, S.C.

One of my favorite hand painted signs. This one is gone, painted over. She was on an old kitchen supply place on upper Meeting St. I may get it printed for my kitchen.

How lazy am I? I read that you could kill weeds with boiling water so every evening I put the kettle on and pour boiling water on the weeds that sneak up between the bricks in my yard. Can't be sure if it is working yet but it sure beats crawling around pulling them up. Put the kettle on, let's do some yard work!

I rushed home to meet Greg the Terminex guy for his once a year pest control visit. If he puts down enough chemicals to kill giant roaches for a full year can you imagine what I am inhaling tonight? I tried to take deep enough breaths on my walk that I would be able to hold my breath all evening.

Someone wants to interview ME about fashion in the workplace tomorrow. Ha! That is pretty funny. What shall I wear, what shall I wear? Something blue, something black or something blue and black just like every other day?

Look but don't touch!

Mansfield Plantation, Georgetown, S.C.

It's Monday after all and we are supposed to work, work, work.

Isn't it a sweet scene? I was cleaning off some old camera cards and came across these last night. They were taken at Mansfield Plantation in Georgetown. All the pictures I took there were so romantic and dreamy some got picked up and re-blogged and posted over and over again. My photos travel more than I do.

In other news, I stopped and bought a money order to send off for a visa for India in November. Woohoo.

Back to work already?

Charleston Harbor Pilot building, Waterfront Park, Charleston, S.C.

Uhoh. I slipped right out of the habit of working after being off on jury duty last week. I didn't have to report to the courthouse until 9:30 in the morning and was dismissed for an hour and a half for lunch. I'm not sure I'm ready for reality to hit me in the morning and play catch up after being out for a week. Ouch. I'm scared.

Congrats to the Japanese Women's Soccer team for winning the World Cup! Wow.

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. G'night kids. Turn the lights out.

Image Sign

Vanderhorst St., Charleston, S.C.

What do you think? Does the art work symbolize something significant about each business owner in the building? I hope so.

What would yours be?

Accordionists hit the streets!

Custom House, Charleston, S.C.

The American Accordionists Association Festival is in town! Who knew? Naturally they played "The Charleston" on the Custom House steps as I walked by. Lucky me.

Weekend Chores

Charleston, S.C.

Yard work Charleston style.

Heheh.

Superman does King St.

King St., Charleston, S.C.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a bicycle rickshaw with a superman cape!

Soda Bottle Cap Art Mural

Bottle Cap Art, Fish Restaurant, Charleston, S.C.

I've always loved this mural made out of colored soda bottle tops that is on the wall in the dining room of Fish Restaurant. Isn't it amazing? Last night I was seated across from it so I made one of the other guests stand up and pose with the image. Wow. She was so beautiful! Thanks Nina :).

Bastille Day festivities - Fish Restaurant

Fish Restaurant, King St., Charleston, S.C.

When a best friend is French, Bastille Day festivities take on a high priority! This is the second year I've gone to Fish Restaurant and they get more creative each time - goats, dancers, even a mini guillotine for french fries. Most of the activity was in the bar area with the can can dancers but we enjoyed the fixed price dinner in the dining room entertained by strolling musicians. Fun evening. Thanks Andre'!

Tight Corners

Vanderhorst St., Charleston, S.C.

Some one took the turn a little too tightly. Not quite sure how they solved it but the easiest way might have been to take the sign down.

Jury duty continues. I have a sneaky feeling I won't be back to work this week. Ooooooh nooooo ;).

Thanks to the Charleston City Paper for printing my tribute to Gene Glave. It felt like such an honor and responsibility to do her justice and I appreciate all the loving feedback.

Super Duper Looper

Scarf with Sea Shell beads

I've met the most incredible caste of characters through the years because of this blog. Some I've met in person but many I haven't yet. One of the later is Mental Meatloaf. I can't tell you how often I come home from work and laugh out loud at the trail of comments she has left on my entries. We've followed each other for so many years I sometimes forget we've never actually met!

Last week I opened a box in my mail to find this beautiful hand crochet scarf. It is gorgeous, goes on for miles and the shells make a happy clinking sound. The enclosed note read, "I made this with you and the ocean in mind. Long Island is all about the ocean so I thought I'd send the spirit of my home to yours."

Thank you! I'll smile every time I wear it. :)

Signs of happy times

Mills House Hotel, Queen St., Charleston, S.C.

I love the look of colorful towels drying on a porch railing. It speaks so much of summer fun even when it's in a snazzy downtown hotel. I hope this family is having a wonderful lowcountry vacation.

Back from jury duty. I don't have to report each morning until 9:30 a.m. which almost feels like a day off in my world. I may get lazy and fat on this jury business since I've been eating out each day instead of my usual scrap of hospital cafeteria salad.

Today a few of my fellow well labeled JURORS walked down to G & M for their lunch special and I kicked myself for not going there more often. It was so yummy. I'll be back! Maybe tomorrow ;). Meanwhile, you know the drill - I can't talk about it.

Ice cold coffee on a hot day

City Lights Coffee Shop, Market St., Charleston. S.C.

I don't know for a fact that the coffee is better than anywhere else but it is a cozy little coffee shop that makes a welcoming ice cold ice coffee and carries the New York Times.

I went through the juror selection process this morning and then was dismissed early afternoon. Nice. I go back for 9:30 in the morning for my continuing adventures in jury duty. Hard to believe that that long drawn out process is repeated over and over again.

Jumping the tracks

Ridgeville, S.C.

This plane looks a little out of place in Ridgeville directly across from Duke's BBQ. Spotting the damaged wing I realized it was the plane that had landed on the railway tracks in an incredible emergency landing.

Small Plane Lands on Railroad Tracks:
RIDGEVILLE, S.C., June 20 (UPI) -- Emergency responders said a small plane made an emergency nighttime landing on railroad tracks in the town of Ridgeville, S.C.

Ridgeville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Herbert Cummings said the Piper Super Cub, which had been pulling advertising banners and was en route to Walterboro, S.C., landed on the tracks Saturday night, avoiding the surrounding buildings and power lines, The Post and Courier, Charleston, S.C., reported Monday.

"They've got reason to celebrate," Cummings said. "It's a wonder that thing didn't nose right out."

The plane's owner, Gould Barrett of Atlanta, praised the pilot's skills and said he does not know why the plane went down.

"We're not sure what happened," Barrett said. "It could have been an engine problem."